Omaha daily bee., 1887-04-23

The act passed by the last congress,
providing for the exclusion from the
United States of aliens under contract to
perform labor, was in repsonse to sem
timent which has become very general
during the past few years, and is now
confined to the labor interests. The de-
velopment of this sentiment was due to
TIE fact that various manufacturing in
dustries had engaged in importing large
numbers of laborers from Europe, whose
services were secured at less price than
workers TO perform similar labor could
be hired for in this country, and who
were bound by strong contracts for
number of years. This system had
grown into large proportions. Agencies
were established to carry it on,
whose emissaries were distrib.
uted through Europe enlisting
men who should be ready on call to come
to these shores and dlsplace the labor
already here. In this way tens of thous-
ands of the lowest class of European la .
borers, only partially civilized and igno-
rant not of the laws but of the language
of the country, and with very low stand.
ards of living, were brought to the United
States. Serious troubles, both industrial
and POLITICAL resulted from these impor-
tations. The labor which these people
displaced suffered, and the communities
into which they were injected expert
enced a more or less decided detcriora-
ton. They yielded reluctantly to law,
conformed slowly to the requirements of
their social surroundings, and constl-
tuted everywhere a troubles ONE
and damaging element. When at
last any of them became aware of
having been duped, as they could not
fail in time to do, they also became a
dangerous element. Some of the most
stubborn and sanguinary labor conflicts
| of the last few years have been carried
on by these people.
The first step for remedying this un.
questionable evil was taken by the pass.
age of the act of February36, 1885, which
| forbade the importation of aliens under
| labor contracts, with certain exceptions
The excepted classes were personal and
domestic servants, professional actors,
artists, lecturers, and singers, or work
men to be employed in any new industry
not already established in the United
States. That act imposed heavy penalties
for Its violation on the employer making
such contract and on the master of the
vessel knowingly bringing the aliens
over, but the prosecution was left to the
United States district attorney. For this
latter reason the law was found to be in
adequate, and the amendatory act passed d
at the last session goes further. 1t charges
the treasury with the duty of seeing to
the execution of tho law by sending
agents on board of incoming passenger
vessels to Examine into the condition of
passengers" so far as may be necessary
to ascertain whether any of them come
under the provisions of the law. If any
such are found-that is, foreigners com
ing to the United States under an agree
ment to work--those persons are to be
sent back to the country from which
they came at the expense of the vesse
bringing them, under penalty of the eX-
cluson of that vessel thereafter from all
ports of the United States.
1t has been said that the president
signed the last act in the press of bust
ness and without giving it due considera
tion, and its constitutionality has been
questioned. The capitalist enemies OF
this sort of legislation IN the interest OF
American labor may be expected to re-
sist it, but the importation of alien con-
tract labor will not be tolerated by the
people of this country. The present law
may need some modification, but a
thoroughly effective statute to secure the
object will certainly be had. Telling evil
dence of the necessity for such law il
furnished in the following statement In
a recent Staffordshire (England) paper
"There is a great demand in English
managed poterics in New Jersey for pot.
ters. The wages offered are so per CEN
better than those paid here, and mer
who will sign contracts to work for al
least one year at y per cent. under Tren
ton standard prices can secure free trans
portation for themselves and thell
families" The law defects this scheme
of the New Jersey pottery owners, and
thereby prevents what would be wrong
and an injustice, both to the English and
the American potters. Thus far but one
case has arisen under the present law
Last week eight English women, expert
velvet cutters, arrived in Boston under
contract with the Crompton company
They were permitted to land when it was
shown that they were required to estab
lish here new industry. The incident
is interesting as showing that the Gus
toms officials understand what is required
of them under the law and are attending
to it.
The Duty OF tho Convention.
The convention which is about to nom
mate republican city ticket has duty
to perform not only to the party, but tt
the citizens who above all things, desire
good government. In order to make
party success ut the coming city election